About Us

Sustained Theatre Up North are part of a National Movement dedicated to the growth and prosperity of BAME Creatives across the UK. STUN are an Artist-led, membership organisation made up of individual practitioners and organisations. Our remit is to work on behalf of members and the Sector to support the development of work by and for BAME audiences and practitioners in the Northwest of England. Our focus has been Performance based practice, however more and more our members are calling for us to fill this gap for people and audiences across all creative diciplines.

Member of the Month

I am a Flamenco dancer based between the UK and Spain. Recently much of what I am creating is centred around the relationship between Flamenco and other forms of expression. Dance has always been in my life but I came to Flamenco as an adult, after studying at University. I think this has given me a certain freedom when it comes to what I want to achieve with my dancing. I’m also at the very beginning of my creative experience as a dancer, and I have a sneaky feeling it might go off in an unexpected direction! Having said that my place of departure will always be flamenco, this complex and rich art form which I continue to study and train in.

Deyika Nzeribe 1966 – 2017

A message from the Board of Sustained Theatre Up North:

We are deeply saddened to lose our Co-Chair, one of our strongest advocates and longest-standing Board members, Deyika Nzeribe. A quiet, unassuming man with an unwaveringly calm demeanour, his ability to enter into any situation and refocus things in a positive direction was outstanding. Outside of his solid financial skills he was the driving force of initiatives such as Fade to Black Film Festival, and the Black Panther Summer School; he was a truly active Board member and the backbone of the organisation. Deyika’s approach was consistently about collective endeavour; never seeking self-promotion, he always pushed others forward before himself. As well as Sustained Theatre Up North, he supported numerous organisations in Manchester - too many to mention - very much from the background. His reach and influence will be felt in many sectors across the City.

Deyika was a tireless advocate for human rights, equalities and more than anything he was a believer in people. He was remarkably open in his approach and desire to change the social, political and cultural landscape. Within Sustained Theatre Up North, his goal was to connect us to voices that otherwise wouldn’t be heard, and bring them to the fore; important voices for our generation and our future.

We will strive to keep this legacy going.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time.